Family RVing Magazine
  • FMCA.COM
  • CONTACT US
familyRVing
  • in this issue
  • tech
    • Tech talk e-newsletter archives
    • more tech talk
  • Digital editions
  • towable guides
  • Classifieds
  • contact
    • contact us
    • advertise with us
    • media room
  • FMCA

Family RVing Magazine

Be Fast For Stroke

January 1, 2021
Be Fast For Stroke

If someone around you appears to show signs of a stroke, it’s critical to get him or her immediate medical treatment.

By Randy Davis, F471978
January 2021

A stroke affects the brain like a heart attack affects the heart, especially if the stroke is caused by a clot in an artery supplying blood to the brain. That is why many medical experts call strokes “brain attacks.” Approximately 85 percent of strokes result from clots (ischemic); the rest occur because of bleeds (hemorrhagic). In both cases, damage can occur to a specific area of the brain. This damage is what causes the victim to exhibit stroke signs and symptoms.

It is imperative that a stroke be recognized early so that treatment can begin early. You must BE FAST in identifying symptoms and getting treatment for the victim. So, remember the acronym “B.E.F.A.S.T.” when dealing with a suspected stroke.

B = Balance. Is the patient able to walk in a straight line, or is he or she moving as though inebriated?

E = Eyes. Are both the victim’s eyes looking in the same direction? Is he or she experiencing any sudden vision issues?

F = Face. Ask the victim to smile. Look to see whether one edge of the mouth “droops” down instead of turning up when the individual attempts to smile.

A = Arms. Ask the patient to hold his or her arms out with palms up and eyes closed. Are they having trouble holding both arms up, or is one drifting down? Is a palm beginning to turn down?

S = Speech. Have the suspected stroke victim say the following: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” If the victim slurs words, says wrong or inappropriate words, or cannot speak, then he or she is positive for stroke.

As a matter of fact, if the victim has a problem with any of the preceding checks, there is a 72 percent chance that he or she is having a stroke.

T = Time. If the patient has a stroke caused by a clot, clot-busting drug treatment MUST be administered within three to four hours from the time the victim was last noted to be normal. It is also time to call for emergency medical services (EMS), usually by dialing 911.

If a person has a sudden onset of any of the following symptoms, use the BE FAST check.

Symptoms include:

A sudden headache that is the worst ever felt (like a thunderclap)

A sudden onset of visual disturbances

A sudden loss of balance

A sudden loss of sensation or movement in an extremity on one side of the body

A sudden problem with speech

The patient should have his or her blood sugar checked, as irregularities can mimic signs of a stroke. The patient also should be transported immediately to a hospital that is a certified stroke center. That is where a rapid CAT scan can determine whether there is a bleed and, if not, blood-clot-busting drugs can be started rapidly.

What can you do? Never lay stroke victims flat; always keep them sitting or lying with their head elevated at about a 20- to 30-degree angle.

If victims are unconscious, lay them on their side to prevent aspiration (vomit or fluids in their airway).

Keep victims (and yourself) calm and get them to a stroke center immediately! Preferably, they will be transported by ambulance (emergency responders know which hospitals are designated stroke centers).

Never, ever give the patient aspirin! Remember that 15 percent of strokes result from a bleeding issue in the brain. Aspirin can make this condition worse, or even fatal. You cannot tell whether the stroke is caused by a clot or a bleed. This can be determined only in the hospital by exam and CAT scan.

If the symptoms resolve very quickly, the victim could be experiencing a TIA, or transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke). Transient means comes and goes. Ischemia is a lack of oxygen to tissue. A TIA could be a sign that a full-blown stroke may occur. The patient should be seen by a physician right away.

Stay safe.

Randall J. (Randy) Davis is a nationally registered paramedic licensed in Missouri and Kentucky. His EMS career has spanned more than 40 years, first as an EMT in 1979, then as a paramedic beginning in 1981. He has presented numerous life-support classes for the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other nationally accredited education programs. 

 

previous post
FMCA Update: Hello, 2021!
next post
2021 Towing Lineup

You may also like

RVing With “Littles”

July 1, 2019

Oh, Deer

January 1, 2021

Tech Talk: FMCA To The Rescue!

January 5, 2021

McKinney Falls State Park

January 1, 2021

Revisiting A Beloved Bus

December 1, 2020

A Smart Way To Buy An RV

May 1, 2020

A Brave New Journey

December 1, 2018

Food As A Destination

January 1, 2021

Five Steps To Planning RV Trips

January 2, 2019

Campgrounds, Cornstalks, And Candy

September 1, 2018




Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube

FMCA on Social Media

  • There are only 3 days left before the early-bird deadline for FMCA
  • "We were stranded along a narrow road near Bryce Canyon, Utah. The location was not a good place for cellular service, but I was able to contact Roadside Rescue and arrange for a tow after driving our towed vehicle to the town of Bryce. I had to speak with several people at Roadside Rescue, but each person I spoke with was respectful and courteous. The tow was set up and our rig taken to a place that promptly took care of the repair and we were back on the road in 24 hours."⁠ ⁠ Michael & Lynn Noonan (F448134)⁠ ⁠
  • #throwbackthursday to the sixth FMCA convention, way back in July, 1969. The convention took place at the Traverse City Civic Center in Traverse City, Michigan and featured RV displays, seminars, vendors, and lots of entertainment. ⁠ ⁠ Fast forward 52 years and 96 conventions to today. We are getting ready for FMCA
  • "Winter! Some love it, some hate it. Winter is a time when there is a stillness in the air but there is also a dryness which can lead to issues with our immune system. Couple that with shorter days, lack of sunlight (which can lead to low energy levels), layers of clothing to keep our skin from absorbing the nutrients of Vitamin D from the sun (crucial for maintaining a strong immune system), and lack of proper hydration due to not feeling thirsty (caused by to cooler temps and less perspiration); ALL of this can lead to our immune systems
  • Volunteering is a great way to spend your time during retirement or over long summer or winter breaks. It provides you with a means of staying active, meeting new people, and feeling productive all while giving back to a cause that you choose! For an inside look at what volunteer life is like as a retired RVer, check out our latest FMCAdventure blog - The Benefits of Volunteering as an RVer. Tap the link in our bio to read it now!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #fmcaRV #rvclub #rvliving #rvlife #rv #rvtravel #fulltimerv #gorving #camping #rvthereyet #homeonwheels #wanderlust #travel #adventure #explore #homeiswhereyouparkit #rvblogger
  • In remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr., let us remember to honor his legacy by continuing to take steps toward equality and righteousness within ourselves, our communities and our nation. That means that we must recognize the human dignity in all of the people we encounter along our journeys.⁠ ⁠ “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”-MLK⁠ ⁠ ⁠
  • Do you have a campground that you find yourself returning to year after year? What do you love about it so much? ⁠ ⁠ With FMCA, you can save on overnight stays at HUNDREDS of different campgrounds across North America. Tap the link in our bio to learn about the different campgrounds where you can save money, just for being an FMCA member!⁠ ⁠ - @natehitstheroad⁠ ⁠ #fmcaRV #rvclub #rvliving #rvlife #rv #rvtravel #fulltimerv #gorving #camping #rvthereyet #homeonwheels #wanderlust #travel #adventure #explore #homeiswhereyouparkit
  • Hit ♥️ if you think campfires in the morning don
  • The Royal Gorge in Canon City, Colorado is one of those places where you leave thinking, "How did I never know about this place before?".⁠ ⁠ Check out our latest travel blog - The Royal Gorge and Canon City, Colorado. It is filled with history, geology, adventure, and LOTS of beautiful photos! Thanks to @mandmhittheroad for contributing this week

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Tech Talk: FMCA To The Rescue!

  • Livin’ The Life: January 2021

  • A Fun-Size Book Library

banner
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

@2017 - FamilyRvingMag. All Right Reserved.


Back To Top

FMCA members have access to exclusive articles and RV tips, plus a digital library of RVing know-how. For full access to website content, plus must-have travel benefits, join FMCA today and get instant access to Family RVing magazine.

If you already have a membership with us, sign in now to get full access!

Join Now Sign In